In Philippians 1, Paul describes a unique
predicament he was facing. At the time, he was in a Roman prison. At any
time, he could be sentenced to death. This end did not cause the apostle any trepidation.
It was his need to stay alive that concerned him. Listen to his words: “For I
am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ,
which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for
you” (Phil. 1:23-24).

There
have been some who have taken Paul’s words to mean that at death one is
immediately judged and proceeds either to heaven or hell. They believe that
after the resurrection of Christ, the Hadean realm consisting of Paradise and
torments was done away. Thus, the account of the rich man and Lazarus found in
Luke 16:19-31 is no longer applicable to man. All of this is based upon Paul
words that he had “a desire to depart, and to be with Christ.”

This
writer believes that this view is a mistaken one for several reasons. First,
Jesus told His disciples that upon His return He would take them to the place
that He had prepared for them (John 14:1-3). Since Jesus has not returned,
Jesus has not given anyone his/her mansion.

Second,
the Bible speaks of the “day” of the Lord’s return and the “day” of judgment.
Acts 17:31 is one reference that confirms our point. “Because he hath
appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that
man whom he hath ordained…” If each person is judged immediately at his death,
then there are many days of judgment and not just one single day.

Third,
Jesus taught several parables concerning judgment in Matthew 25. The last one
opens with these words: “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and with
all of his holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his
glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats” (vs.
31-32). Jesus teaches us that judgment will involve the gathering of all men
together before Him. He did not teach an individual judgment of each man at
his death.

Fourth,
in this same parable Jesus reveals that it will be at the final judgment that
man receives either reward or punishment. “Then shall the King say unto them
on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world…Then shall he say also unto them on
his left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:34, 41).

When
Paul said that he could depart and be with Christ, did he mean immediately?
Or, did Paul realize that this would eventually take place after death? Surely
he knew that if he made it to Paradise, he would also be blessed to eventually
see his precious Lord and Savior.